This is it, my last Mika story. If I fail again and fall into the trap of Mary Sueness... then I will cast him into the lockbox...

I have been warned.

I have learned a lot. Writing my og works, having beta readers and reddit has helped me craft a genuinely better story.

The Day of Graduation

"Are you sure, young Mika?" Hiruzen asked the boy before him, wondering if the boy truly knew the cost of his request. "You do realize the path you are choosing, it holds no great glory or repute for most? It is a hard path, with much effort, studying and dedication beyond what most Ninja need to become powerful, productive members of our village."

Mika nodded, standing as tall as his four-foot-five tall frame would allow. "I am aware, Lord Hokage... but being a medical shinobi is the right path for me. Though I wish to claim greater power, I am a clanless ninja. I need a more specific path less I languish in obscurity and weakness. I am exceedingly smart, my chakra control seems to be above average. Moreover, I have been studying for this. I knew that this path would be hard, so I started studying the instant I was able to, reading everything I could on anatomy, physiology, psychology, botany and a variety of other things. I am as prepared as I can be.

Being a medical ninja will make me useful to the village, in a way that I would struggle to find for a while as a clanless ninha. Beyond that, it will also give me the means to fight better, I am aware that medical ninjas train in an evasive taijutsu style, which will work well since my entire fighting style revolves around lessening my chakra usage, increasing my stamina, and preventing injury since I am simply not bred to take the pounding my contemporaries are. I am a small boy, ninja or not.

So, yes, Lord Hokage, I am sure."

The man nodded, slowly, taking in the boy's words. "It is true that you graduated third in your class, just after Shino Aburame and Sasuke Uchiha... though your academic scores were far higher, and that is despite only having had started the academy at eight, three years after your peers! Intelligence is key to being a shinobi, even more so for a medic... if you are certain, then I will give my approval, but I must ask what the tanto is for?" The boy was carrying a tanto in his left hand, which clashed against his grey shirt and vest and black shorts, so shinobi against the mark of civilian life.

Mika, who had remained stoic and cold, broke out into a smile. "I bought it right before I came here. I wanted a unique skill among my peers, even if you denied me. All of my peers are Heirs, or most of them anyway, and they have unique powers and skills. I needed something to stand out but wouldn't waste my low chakra reserves. This was a clearly good idea. I also know that as a new medic, I would only be training three days a week. The rest I can use to train myself in taijutsu, conditioning, and of course kenjutsu with my tanto. As a medic, I need to preserve chakra and protect my patients, it is a cardinal rule your student Tsuande set down herself. I studied that. She had her superstrength, I have my tanto."

Hiruzen could not help but laugh. "You are really prepared... very well, go to the hospital. I will send word ahead that you are to be tested and assessed for medical training."

The boy bowed. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

"Oh and if you are tested and proved worthy of being trained as a medic, do not bother going back to the academy for a sensei or here for missions. Medical training counts as two D ranks week. You work as a level one medic three hours a day every day you train, allowing you to near an income as you study. It also allows you to give back to the village. As for not having a sensei, your medical training takes priority. Now go, we both have a great deal of work ahead of us." As he left, Hiruzen turned his gaze to the boy's charts, taking in the various recommendations he read. "Strong Taijutsu skill but low strength and high agility. Weak stamina and chakra levels. High intelligence. Genjutsu type... he is clearly more intelligent than we realized and far more prepared, I only hope it is enough."

"""

Mika shivered as he hurried to the hospital, he had just graduated the academy not even two hours ago and here he was molding himself a path away from his annoying, lazy, entitled peers. He was going to make something of himself early on, and no one would stop him. Medical training was all he wanted, and taking a page from claim training, he prepared and molded himself for it for the last year.

'I only hope it's enough.' Shaking, he gripped his tanto tightly. 'Today I bought my weights, my tanto, generic kenjutsu scrolls, and a better outfit for missions. It was costly, but I need it if I am to thrive in this backward, bloodline obsessed village. Soon I will be learning medical jutsu, including their evasive taijutsu style, and slowly I will be molded into a powerful force that matters and can make something of myself. Nothing will stop me...I can do this. I have prepared, I am smart and I got this.'Reaching the hospital, he strode to the counter and asked the receptionist. "Ma'am, I was sent here by the Hokage to be assessed for medical potential."

The woman nodded, smiling. "You must be Mika! We always look forward to extra hands on deck. Come with me, dear." She led him to a door a few rooms to the left. "Kabuto, will you be a dear and do an assessment for a new medic in training? The boy's name is Mika."

Kabuto turned out to be a moderately tall grey haired boy with glasses and purple clothes. "Sure thing. Hello there, Mika. Name's Kabuto Yakushi, let's get you started. Teh test is really simple, with three parts. First is a generic test of knowledge to see where you need to grow. A chakra control test to see if you could ever cast the Mystic Palm and other medical techniques and finally a conditioning test. We need to asses your chakra levels, taijutsu skills and so one to see if you are battle medic ready or just hospital ready. Sound fair?"

"Sounds perfect, let's get started."

"Follow me to the testing room and we will do just that."

And like that, the path to his future was paved with it's first stone.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a blast to write, very different already, I am loving it. More thought out, Less OP and Mary Suish...

I have one thought I want to share. Why do some people have issue with a character that planned their future out?

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.